National Youth Recorder Orchestras

Welcome to the website for the National Youth Recorder Orchestras (NYRO)

NYRO is an organisation dedicated to young recorder players and exists to support, develop and nurture their playing and give them opportunities to perform. As well as supporting their musical ambitions, NYRO gives them the chance to meet other young people, have new experiences and broaden their horizons. NYRO is unique in that it is the only national youth recorder orchestra in the world.

NYRO’s principal aims are to:

Be an advocate for high quality recorder playing and for the recorder orchestra model

Bring together like-minded young people to develop their recorder playing to a high level and to benefit from top professional tutors and conductors

Give young people the opportunity to make friends from all social backgrounds who share their interests and experience the satisfaction of working together

Stimulate interest in the recorder and promote it as an instrument for life, encouraging participation in an absorbing and life-enhancing hobby.

NYRO runs two residential courses and a number of Recorder Days around the country each year. We engage top professional recorder players as tutors and experienced conductors to coach and inspire youg players, and give them the opportunity to try or renew the experience of playing in ensembles with professional guidance. We have all the large recorders avaliable during our courses so players can try out bass, great bass and contrabass recorders. Recorder teachers are also very welcome to attend our Recorder Days.

28th July 2018

Next Course

3rd-7th April 2018

The Easter Course is once again at our regular venue, Rugby School. There will be auditions for the Summer Course 2018 during the week, which will also be available to students not attending the Easter Course.

22nd-28th July 2018

Our week-long residential course from 22nd-28th July 2018 is open to players aged 10-25 with a playing standard of Grade 5 up to Diploma. All players must audition for this course. Our tutors this year are Colin Touchin, Chris Orton, Michelle Holloway and Joris van Goethem.

Next Audition

18th March 2018

A fun day of playing with Katriina Boosey and Annabel Knight for young recorder players from Grade 3 upwards at Priory School, Edgbaston. Players who are not quite ready to join in a full NYRO day or have not reached the minimum grade standard are welcome to join us for the afternoon session. Auditions for the Summer Course 2018 will be held at this event.

3rd-7th April 2018

The Easter Course is once again at our regular venue, Rugby School. There will be auditions for the Summer Course 2018 during the week, which will also be available to students not attending the Easter Course.

29th April 2018

A fun day of playing with Annabel Knight and Katriina Boosey for young recorder players from Grade 3 upwards at St. Luke's Church Rooms, Countess Wear. Players who are not quite ready to join in a full NYRO day or have not reached the minimum grade standard are welcome to join us for the afternoon session. Auditions for the Summer Course 2018 will be held at this event.

20th May 2018

A fun day of playing with Rebecca Austen-Brown and Katriina Boosey for young recorder players from Grade 3 upwards at James Allen's Girls' School. Players who are not quite ready to join in a full NYRO day or have not reached the minimum grade standard are welcome to join us for the afternoon session. Auditions for the Summer Course 2018 will be held at this event.

24th June 2018

A fun day of playing with Chris Orton and Katriina Boosey for young recorder players from Grade 3 upwards in Aberdeen. Players who are not quite ready to join in a full NYRO day or have not reached the minimum grade standard are welcome to join us for the afternoon session. Auditions for the Summer Course 2018 will be held at this event.